Page 21 of His to Possess

What I hadn’t been able to confirm was whether the animalistic smell was coming from the Wolfen or from another prominent pack of wolves, including the Nightwalkers. They were particularly difficult, running their organization more like a biker club than a civilized community. I wouldn’t put anything past them, including hunting for leisure.

Since the mandate almost twenty years before that they were our sworn enemy, peace had been kept between the two packs. While a few of the pack members had been involved in petty crimes and skirmishes, none had ever performed such a heinous act. Had something changed in their organization or was I grasping at straws, praying to God the attacks hadn’t been done by a Wolfen?

Stone Keeler was by any term a true barbarian, although I still found it difficult to believe the various stories I’d heard since his return. What I did know for certain was that he was slick and highly respected, his pack more like lapdogs than associates. The pack believed he was a true leader. I loathed that kind of power.

Or maybe a small portion hungered for the exact same thing. There were those in my community who would agree.

I’d curtailed my anger while protecting Kathleen, but whoever the wolf was, he’d certainly gathered her scent on my body. That and her attack on him placed a target on her back. Now I wasn’t certain if she was the intended victim or if the attacks were a complete loss of his control. Either way, I would be required to hunt him down and kill him prior to any additional attacks occurring.

That meant I needed to speak to my father, and perhaps the other elders or the city councilmembers. They would know how best to handle this. That would come later and after my discussion with Kathleen.

God damn it, the stench of the beast remained. I’d smelled it on her, much like my own, almost like an indelible ink. The asshole had gotten too close, even before I’d found her, although I hadn’t noticed any wounds or scratch marks. Perhaps the wolf still had some level of rationality left. If his killing spree had more to do with a disease that had fully taken over, he would kill indiscriminately without allowing any of his humanity to interfere.

If this rogue asshole was simply a murderer, he would likely alter his killing grounds and his methods.

Jesus, I was beginning to sound like my father and a believer in the old ways.

Hissing, I stared at the information on the damn fugitive, barely able to concentrate. I’d been fucking careless in taking her so soon, putting her life in danger. I should have followed my instinct instead of my cock. Even now my balls were tight as drums, desire spilling into every synapse. I hadn’t simply happened on the park in the middle of the freaking night. I’d gathered a whiff of her from miles away and followed her to the kill zone.

Like some wayward fool.

Now everything had changed. I’d been tossed into the middle of a nightmare.

While I wanted nothing to do with the Denver Police Department, I would remain close. I needed to make certain none of the detectives pointed a finger toward the Wolfen or another pack, including Kathleen. Christ. What a freaking mess. Her curiosity was keen, her attention to detail spectacular.

She was like a dog with a bone with regard to the case. That much I could already tell. After checking her out, I realized I had my hands full on several levels. And I still had my own job to do. I refused to back away from my assignment, even as my mind drifted to the old ways and teachings of our kind. The aging stories had been shoved down my throat as a child, something I’d balked against like any teenager and young man would do. My father had been so patient.

I’d spent the previous two days doing my job, tracking Brody with my partner of three years, hunting down what had ended up being unreliable sources. The last tip we’d received indicated Brody had skipped town, which wouldn’t bode well with the brass. So far, there’d been no communication between Brody and Stone.

Still, something didn’t smell right.

As a fugitive, Brody was considered armed and dangerous, in a league all his own. But he was somewhat predictable in his actions, which meant he’d be forced to secure some kind of help. The fucker would be caught eventually. Humans were careless in their actions.

A rogue wolf was something else entirely. Intelligent and cunning, they were considered one of the most dangerous creatures on the planet, their capabilities and skills unequaled. Only humans had no idea how close in proximity they lived, performing the same jobs, children going to the same schools. There would always be myths about the existence of what the fables called werewolves, only Wolfen were far superior.

Wolves in general were exceptional in every manner.

There hadn’t been a story of a rogue attack in almost three decades, even though the pack elders continued to insist that any day the disease could begin to take over. I’d heard nothing about the murders from any member of the pack, although having refused to live close to any of them, I was often kept out of the loop. The attacks were something I couldn’t ignore, even if it meant placing my job in jeopardy.

Fuck. Fuck!

I checked my watch, thankful the second team had taken over the hunt for Brody. I was bone weary but had far too much work left to do.

Given her obvious distrust of me, I hadn’t expected a call from Kathleen, but she’d established a meeting at her convenience, the call short and efficient. She’d been convinced I was lying to her. I should have known she was a member of law enforcement. Her manner of speaking and a few of the words she’d said should have led me to the correct conclusion.

If I hadn’t been thinking so damn irrationally, my desire blinding me from almost anything else, I wouldn’t be in this position. While the hunger continued to burn deep within, my reason for taking her once again tonight would be more about protection and little to do with sexual gratification.

Or so I wanted to tell myself.

I found it humbling being forced to return to the community, four thousand plus acres owned by the Wolfen. As far as anyone who knew about the area, the families were considered ranchers and nothing more, providing for their families off cattle and sheep. Over the decades, the beautiful location had been turned into a rather bustling small town, even drawing in tourists who provided needed income. The return would be bittersweet.

However, I needed information and the best source was my father and the elder members who ran the city council. If anyone knew what was going on, they would. Now I had to file a damn report, and I loathed being stuck in the office for any length of time.

“Hot date?” Logan asked, grinning as he grabbed his jacket.

I gave my partner the middle finger before rolling my eyes. “Maybe.”

“Woo-hoo. About damn time. I kinda thought you were going to enter the ministry.” He laughed heartily. I could feel his weighted gaze as he glanced over my shoulder at a picture of Brody. “We’ll catch the asshole. He’ll be back in his locked cage in no time.”

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